Community Health Investment Grant Program

The Community Health Investment Program (CHIP), administered by the Salina Regional Health Foundation, is a grantmaking initiative aimed at improving public health outcomes in north central Kansas. This program was initiated in 1995 by the Salina Regional Health Center and continues to receive its primary funding from the same institution. The Foundation oversees all operations, application review, and disbursement of funds. Since its inception, CHIP has distributed over $13 million in grant awards to a diverse array of local organizations committed to enhancing regional health indicators. The purpose of the CHIP grant is to support community-based organizations and initiatives that align with the Salina Regional Health Center's mission to enhance public health in targeted areas. Grant recipients must demonstrate measurable contributions toward improving health in one or more of the funder's seven defined priority areas. These include children’s health from prenatal to age 18, mental health and depression, issues related to an aging population, child obesity, substance abuse and drug overdose prevention, and indicators related to heart disease and stroke. These focus areas reflect pressing public health challenges affecting the region, and the grant intends to fund interventions that yield meaningful health improvements. Eligible applicants are organizations operating within north central Kansas that propose projects or programs aligned with one or more of the CHIP funding priorities. Each applicant is allowed to submit only one CHIP application within a 12-month period, with the 12-month window starting from the date of the organization's previous application review. It is important to note that applications for multi-year funding will not be accepted under the current program guidelines. Additionally, CHIP grants are distinct from Good Neighbor Fund grants, which are excluded from the one-application-per-year restriction. The application process for the CHIP grant involves completing and submitting both a standard Grant Application Form and a Grant Budget Form. These documents are necessary for all applicants and serve as the basis for proposal evaluation. Although specific application questions are not publicly listed, applicants should be prepared to demonstrate the alignment of their project with CHIP’s funding priorities, include budgetary specifics, and provide other supporting details about their program or intervention. For fiscal year 2025, there are three fixed submission deadlines: January 10, April 18, and August 15. Applications must be submitted by these dates to be considered for funding. The opportunity is not rolling, and there is no indication of year-round acceptance or continuous review. However, the program does appear to recur annually. There is no explicit opening date mentioned, but based on the presence of future deadlines and the ongoing nature of the program, it is considered active and currently accepting applications. Interested applicants can direct inquiries to the Salina Regional Health Foundation. The Foundation can be reached by phone at 1-785-452-6088 or via email at foundation@srhc.com. The Foundation's mailing address is PO Box 618, Salina, KS 67402-0618. The CHIP grant program continues to be a vital funding source for local health initiatives and is structured to ensure that impactful, short-term projects addressing community health challenges receive necessary financial support.